T-line Hernia Mesh Repairs of Large Umbilical Hernias: Technique and Short-term Outcomes.

BACKGROUND

The T-line hernia mesh is a synthetic, polypropylene mesh specifically designed to prevent anchor point failure by evenly distributing tension through mesh suture extensions. This case series illustrates the first clinical application of the T-line mesh for umbilical hernia repair (UHR).

METHODS

This study is a retrospective, consecutive cases series of all adult patients presenting to a single surgeon with symptomatic umbilical hernia requiring surgical repair using the T-line hernia mesh. Patient demographics, surgical details, and 30-day postoperative complications were collected. Descriptive statistics were computed in Microsoft Excel (Redmond, Va.).

RESULTS

Three patients presented for UHR. All three patients were obese with mean body mass index of 37.5 ± 6.6. Two patients were former smokers, and two had presented after hernia recurrence. The average defect size was 80.1 cm ± 94.0 cm. Two patients had UHR with onlay mesh placement, whereas one had a transversus abdominus release followed by retrorectus mesh placement. The average mesh size was 192.3 cm ± 82.5 cm. All three cases were classified as clean. There were no intraoperative complications. No patients experienced 30-day postoperative complications or recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

We present a case series of three patients presenting with large, symptomatic umbilical hernias who underwent UHR with T-line hernia mesh reinforcement without short term complications or hernia recurrence at last follow-up.